Direction signal



Sept. 29, 1942- c. D. BRONSON 2,296,978

DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed Sept. 24, 1941 INVENTOR Cqn-H D. Bronson j-1i l1 I 7 BY ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1942 U ITED- "STAT PATE T i Fl C-E DIRECTION SIGNAL Cyril D. Bronson, KlamathFalls, Oreg. Application September 24, 1941, Serial No. 412,147

' 4Cla-ims. (c1. ie-.35) I This invention relates to direction signals for installation upon automotive vehicles, and for operation as a signal to others to signal the proposed movements of the vehicle'upon which it is mounted.

As most signals, of the movement of a vehicle are given by the left hand of the driver thereof, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a signal which operates from a position proximate where hand signals are made.

Another object of the invention is to provide a semaphore type signal operating exteriorly of the vehicle body and manually controlled by a lever operable upon the steering column of the vehicle.

Another object, of the invention is to automatically illuminate the signal arm when it is being employed for signalling.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a simple operating mechanism for the I signal.

The attainment of these and incidental objects is had by the mechanism and means described hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure I is a side elevation of portions of the invention.

Figure II is a plan view .of the invention, .as indicatedby line II.. II ,of Fig. I. 1.

Fi u e lllis a rear elevation of the invention.

gu e I s an en a ed fra mentary deta of the operating lever shaft, and sleeve assembly.

Figure V is a horizontal section of the signal arm housing, as indicated by section line V-V in Figure VII.

Figure V1 is the sectional view indicated by section line in Fig. V.

Figure VII is the sectional view indicated by section line VII--VII of Fig. V.

Referring now to the drawing, numeral I indicates the steering column of an automobile. Mounted on the column, and axially parallel, is a sleeve 2, the attachment being made by means of clamps 3. A shaft 4 is journaled in sleeve 2. The upper end of the sleeve is provided with rounded teeth 2'. A lever 5, by

. means of its hub is mounted to the upper end of shaft 4. The underside of the hub has teeth 5" which mesh with teeth 2'. Mounted to the lower end of the shaft 4 by means of its hub 6' is an arm 6. A space exists between the bottom of sleeve 2 and hub 6', and mounted therebetween. and coiled about shaft 4 is coil spring I. The action of this spring 2' and 5" to mesh. The meshing of the teeth prevents loose rotation of the shaft, though permitting rotation when force is applied to lever 5, as when the lever is manually operated. Lever 5 is mounted to the left hand side of the steering column, the side opposite that on which, in modern cars, the gea shift lever is mounted. The latter is not shown herein.

A casing 9, by means of flange H], is mounted to the exterior of the car bodygfi. This position of the mounting is just forward and just a little below a lin drawn transversely along the bottom of the dash II. The casing has a sleeve extensionv I2'whi'ch extends into the interior of the car. A shaft I3 is ;journaled in suitable bearings in the sleeve I2. One of the bearings, indicated by numeral I4 is positioned at the outer end of the sleeve, while is to press shaft 4 down thus compelling teeth a similar bearing, not shown, is provided at the inner end of the sleeve. Shaft I3 projects sufficientl-y from the inner end of sleeve I2 to permit mounting thereon of the arm l5; On the outer end of shaft I3, which projects within casing 9, is mounted a bevel gear I 5.

Casing 9 has a bearing I I. A hollow-shaft I 8 is rotatively positioned in this hearing, though its ends project respectively in and out of the casing. Upon the inner end of the shaft I8 is mounted a bevel gear H! which meshes with gear I6. Gear I 9- issmaller than gear H5, so that rotation of the former is nearly tWo to the one of the latter; Mounted on the outer end of shaft I-8- is a hollow signal arm 29. This arm is provided with a hub 2| for mounting upon shaft I 8. Arm 20 at opposite sides is provided with il-luminable faces 20".

A cross member 22" is positioned within arm 20. The cross member has an electric lamp socket 23 in which is seated lamp 24-. Socket 23 has a negative connection 2 5 to the arm 20 It also has a positive connection 26. The latter connection leads into shaft I'I, through hole I8" in the shaft and in the hub of gear I9, and through hole 2'! in the insulate rin 21 mounted about said hub, and is secured to contact plate 28 mounted partially about said ring. Hence, only when a source of electrical energy contacts plate 28, is lamp 24 illuminated. Such contact is provided by means of a spring contact member 29 mounted upon an insulate base 30 within casing 9. An electrical connection, wire, 32 connects with contact member 29, leads through hole 33 in casing 9, sleeve I2, and bearing [4, into the space between shaft I3 and sleeve I2, and. thence through the wall of sleeve l2 at point 35, from whence it connects with a source of electrical energy, not shown.

Arms l5 and 6 are connected by means of a link 36. It is necessary that the pivotal connection between the link and respective arms be somewhat free, and this is best obtained by providing a ball and socket connection between link and arms as is shown by the connection between link 36 and arm 6 in Fig. I.

When it is desired to operate the signal, the lever 5 is rocked. This .movement of the lever transmits movement through arm 6, link 36 and arm I5 to shaft l3, and by means of the bevel Figure III illustrates the various signal positions of arm 20 which may be had by manipulating the lever. Position A is neutral or non-operative position; position B, the position for signalling a stop; position C, the position for signalling a left turn; and position D, signalling a right turn. Immediately upon the movement of the signal arm from neutral position A, contact 29 contacts plate 28, closing the electrical circuit through and illuminating lamp 24, thus illuminating plates which may be of a red or warning tinge. However, when the signal arm returns to neutral or A position the contact is broken, and the electric circuit is opened.

While the form of improvement herein shown and described is admirably adapted for fulfilling the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

l. A direction signal, comprising a casing adapted for mounting exteriorly upon the body of a motor vehicle and having an extension projecting into such vehicle, a shaft journaled Within the casing extension, its inner end projecting beyond the end of the extension, and its outer end projecting into the casing, a bevel gear mounted upon the outer end of said shaft, an arm mounted upon its inner end, a second shaft journaled within the casing with one end within the casing and the other without, a bevel gear mounted upon the inner end of the second shaft meshing with the first gear, a signal arm mounted upon the outer end of the second shaft, a sleeve mounted axially parallel upon the steering column of the vehicle, a shaft journaled within the sleeve, the upper end of the sleeve having rounded teeth, a lever mounted upon the upper end of the last shaft provided with rounded teeth meshing with the teeth of the sleeve, an arm mounted upon the lower end of the last shaft; a spring mounted between the lower end of the sleeve and the last arm forcing the last shaft downward and causing the aforesaid teeth to mesh, and a link pivotally connected between the first and last mentioned arms.

2. A direction signal, comprising a casing adapted for mounting exteriorly upon the body of a motor vehicle and having an extension projecting into such vehicle, a shaft journaled within the casing and extension, its inner end projecting beyond the end of the extension, and its outer end projecting into the casing, a. bevel gear mounted upon the outer end of said shaft, an arm mounted upon its inner end, a second shaft journaled within the casing with one end "within the casing and the other without, a bevel gear mounted upon the inner end of the second shaft meshing with the first gear, a signal arm mounted on the outer end of the second shaft, a sleeve mounted axially parallel upon the steering column of the vehicle, a shaft journaled within the sleeve, a lever mounted upon the upper end of the last shaft, an arm mounted upon the lower end of the last shaft, and a link pivotally connected between the first and last mentioned arms.

3. A direction signal, comprising a casing mounted upon the exterior of a motor vehicle, a shaft having one end journaled in the casing projecting into the vehicle interior, a bevel gear mounted on the outer end of said shaft, an arm mounted on the inner end of said shaft, a second shaft journaled within the casing with one end within the casing and the other without, a bevel gear mounted upon the inner end of the second shaft meshing with the first gear, a signal arm mounted upon the outer end of the second shaft, a sleeve mounted axially parallel upon the steering column of the vehicle, a shaft journaled within the sleeve, a lever mounted upon the upper end of the last shaft, an arm mounted upon the lower end of the last shaft, and a link pivotally connected between the first and last mentioned arms.

4. A direction signal, comprising a casing mounted upon the exterior of a motor vehicle, a shaft having one end journaled in the casing projecting into the vehicle, a bevel gear mounted upon the outer end of said shaft, an arm mounted on the inner end of said shaft, a second shaft journaled within the casing with one end within the casing and the other without, a bevel gear mounted upon the inner end of the second shaft meshing with the first gear, a signal arm mounted upon the outer end of the second shaft, a shaft journaled upon the steering column of the vehicle, a lever mounted upon the last shaft, an arm mounted upon the last shaft, and a link pivotally connected between the first and last arms.

CYRIL D. BRONSON. 

